Why Learn Physics?

Diane Riendeau
Citation: The Physics Teacher 47, 478 (2009); doi: 10.1119/1.3225519
View online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1119/1.3225519
View Table of Contents: http://scitation.aip.org/content/aapt/journal/tpt/47/7?ver=pdfcov
Published by the American Association of Physics Teachers
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YouTube Physics
w Why Learn Physics?
In my experience, when students can see an application for knowledge, they are more willing to
spend the necessary time to attain it. Certainly
your students were motivated at the beginning of
the semester. Perhaps now is a good time to get
their attention again? One way to motivate our
students to learn physics is to show them examples
of the way people try to exploit the ignorance of
others. Along this vein, I offer these four video
clips.
There is a hill in Maryland (and more throughout the world) where cars and other objects
appear to roll uphill. The first link is a group of
young adults videotaping their own experience.
The second is a video that explains the phenomenon.
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHPmdO_f-wI
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to9cvh8N7G4

There is so much bad physics available to the

public. This video features a member of the

478

DOI: 10.1119/1.3225519

public who is convinced that a tainted water

supply is responsible for the production of rainbows.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3qFdbUEq5s

As computer graphics evolve, sometimes it is

hard to discern what is real and what was generated on a computer. I offer this video as an example. Is it possible? Perhaps this would lead to
a good classroom discussion?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylwZFM3o2ic

Special thanks to Karl Mamola and the pholks at

Physics Northwest for your video suggestions.
We hope you enjoy these YouTube videos and you
will submit your own favorites that you have used
with your students. Please submit the link along
with a brief description. Submissions and correspondence should be sent to:
Diane Riendeau, Deerfield High School,
1959 N. Waukegan Rd., Deerfield, IL 60015;
DRiendeau@dist113.org

The Physics Teacher Vol. 47, October 2009

This article is copyrighted as indicated in the article. Reuse of AAPT content is subject to the terms at: http://scitation.aip.org/termsconditions. Downloaded to IP:
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